Press Release:
Throughout May, PCC Natural Markets (PCC) will host food drives at all of its nine neighborhood locations in King and Snohomish Counties. Specially marked donation bins will be set up inside each PCC store. These special food drives will help nourish kids who don’t have access to school-supplied meals during the summer months and whose families are served by food banks that partner with PCC in its year-round food bank program.

According to the “Communities Count Report” (September 2010), most school districts within King County, Wash. alone experienced an increase in the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-priced meals between 2009 and 2010. In Seattle, the largest K-12 school district in the state, 42 percent of students qualify. Families must have incomes at or less than 130 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for free lunches; families at or below 185 percent qualify for reduced-price lunches.

PCC’s food bank partners – and items most in need – include:

Beneficiary food banks:

• Redmond Hopelink Food Bank
• Kirkland Hopelink Food Bank
• Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank
• Westgate Chapel Food Bank
• Greenwood Food Bank
• University District Food Bank
• Family Works Food Bank
• West Seattle Food Bank
• Jewish Family Services – Morris Polack Food Bank

Top 10 requested items:

• Canned and boxed meals
• Grains
• Pasta and sauce
• Canned/dried beans
• Canned fruits and veggies
• Shelf stable milk
• Cooking oil
• Nut butter and jam
• Toiletries
• Cereal

These food drives are a part of PCC Healthy Kids, a multi-year initiative to improve local children’s health through nutrition. The goal of this initiative is to boost awareness of the value of good nutrition, resulting in a lifetime of wellness for the thousands of kids and families that participate at home, at school and in our stores and communities. To learn more about PCC Healthy Kids, visit pcchealthykids.com.

About PCC Natural Markets (PCC): Headquartered in Seattle, Wash., PCC Natural Markets is a certified organic retail cooperative with annual sales of $148 million and an active membership of 46,000 households. PCC operates nine stores in the Seward Park, View Ridge, Greenlake, West Seattle, Fremont, Kirkland, Redmond, Edmonds and Issaquah neighborhoods. www.pccnaturalmarkets.com